The designer discusses how she blended modern and traditional design elements in this glamorous Chicago bath.

Summer Thornton: Isn't it amazing? Instantly, it transports you to a more glamorous time. The silvery background sets the stage for the traditional unlacquered brass fixtures. I'm obsessed with mixing cool and warm.

And you're not afraid to mix messages. What prompted that bold painted floor?

The owner is a young, vibrant woman, and we wanted something that would excite her, something she hadn't seen before. The pattern was inspired by a fabric I saw. We blew up the scale, drew it out, and started painting. I thought, This could go really wrong or be really great.

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Did you pull the green out of the wallpaper?

Now that you mention it, the colors don't match. But there's a lot of green in the master bedroom, and for some weird reason, it works. I like things that are a little bit off and not too perfect. If floral wallpaper seems kind of old-lady, the floor gives it a little kick.

Did you design the vanities?

No, we made them out of a pair of vintage Hollywood Regency dressers. I love the gold-leaf detailing and the ornate brass hardware. We fitted them with sinks and topped them with the same Calacatta Borghini marble we chose for the shower stall.

Are the mirrors antique?

Those are new, but we had them custom sized to be even taller and narrower. I think those proportions are inherently elegant, and they also accentuate the height of the room.

I've never seen brass feet on a tub before.

I like the way they stand out and make the tub feel different. I also like how they raise it off the floor, so you can see more of the pattern painted underneath. It feels as if those shiny claw feet are dancing on the stripes!

Why did you switch from old-fashioned fixtures on the tub to more modern faucets on the sinks?

I'm not a slave to a single style of plumbing. I prefer to mix it up and create a more collected look. The sink faucets are the perfect amount of modern for me, and I love how the clean lines play off the more traditional lines of the vanities. Putting an acrylic shelf over the tub was another way to add a contemporary twist to the room. It was custom made to hold everything from art to bath products to towels.

And then you topped off the whole thing with another twist — that dazzling chandelier.

I love fantasy, and that chandelier was irresistible. It's Italian from the 1960s and made of rams' horns cast in brass. It has that eccentricity I love. I suppose we could have hung one of those classic crystal chandeliers in here, but this is just a lot more fun.